Game Safety

Game Safety

Policy

Safety is a paramount concern at Kingdoms of Novitas. Concerns about safety take priority over all other situations; players ignoring safety rules will be dealt with more harshly than violation of other rules, regardless of if the violation is intentional or not.
Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should, and this page will explain combat etiquette and expectations.

Waivers

All players need to have a current waiver on file before participating in the game. The current waiver can be found via this link.

Completed digital copies of the waiver can be emailed to Frank Tamburrino or Taylor Dean before attending, or you can fill out a physical copy on site when you first check-in for the event.

Physical Contact

Players are allowed to act as if they are physically fighting if all parties have given clear verbal consent in advance. These situations should be purely for theatrical purposes, should not involve actual grappling/ wrestling, and should take place outside of active combats to make it clear they are not part of the combat.

Physical contact is a subject that should be taken very seriously for the safety and comfort of all players. There is no physical contact allowed in combat ever. Contact with boffer weapons is different than physical contact for these purposes.

Other than weapon contact in combat situations, physical contact is permitted only when both players consent. Any rule that involves two players interacting where physical contact might get involved can be summarized by that last sentence.

Physical contact for combat purposes that does not involve a weapon is never permitted.

• A player may not charge another player or do anything else that would force another player to move in order to avoid physical contact.
• Players may not grapple, wrestle, or otherwise entrap or impair limbs during combat. You may not grasp another player's weapon in combat.
  • It is permissible to use a weapon to attempt to push or pull a shield or another weapon out of the way. However, it is not acceptable to pin a weapon or shield to an immovable object (such as a wall or the ground).
• Bashing another player with a shield with the intention of knocking them off balance is also not permissible.

Gear Safety

Gear should be reinspected roughly yearly to make sure it does not become dangerous over time from wear.

All gear that will be used in combat (weapons and armor) must be inspected by an approved member of the rules workgroup before it can be brought into game Weapons are inspected to make sure they are sufficiently padded and secure, while armor and shields are checked for sharp edges that could damage players or weapons (a damaged weapon isn't just an aesthetic issue, over time it can become a safety issue).

Real world weapons have no place at Kingdoms of Novitas. If you wish to carry a utility knife you must have it approved by the operations marshal or second (Chris Soukup or Zach Goldstein).

Fire Safety

The Boy Scouts take fire safety very seriously, and as our hosts are a Boy Scout camp, we need to respect their requirements.

1. Small, controlled flames (such as candles) can be lit by anyone but should never be left unattended.
   1. If the candle is on the ground, make sure to clear the area of dry leaves and kindling before lighting it in case it tips over.
2. Campfires have important requirements.
   1. They may only be made in designated fire pits and must be lit by an individual approved by someone specifically designated by the operations marshal or second, (Chris Soukup or Zach Goldstein).
   2. Once lit, the person who requested the fire is responsible for making sure that someone is attending it for as long as it remains lit.

Failing to tend to a lit fire can result in our entire organization getting kicked off this site and will result in operations no longer lighting fires for you.

Combat: A Real-Life Skill

Players are expected to remain in control of their actions at all times. Being able to stop abruptly is important and for that reason, jumping is generally not something that can be done safely during a combat situation.

Combat in Kingdoms of Novitas uses a player's real-life talent, where their character's abilities only have limited effect. Players over the course of an event will almost certainly find themselves in combat unless they actively try to avoid it. Ambush without prior warning is allowed and is fairly common.

There is no realistic way for a player to officially remain out of combat during an event. For that reason if a player has a medical reason to worry about getting into combat, they should take appropriate steps to safeguard themselves. This means some players may voluntarily limit themselves to the inn for their time in play to avoid most combat. If even the limited risk of combat in the inn is too risky, it is recommended that players remain in the logistics building during game hours.

Combat Referees

Battle damage and wear happen over time. Combat referees may ask to inspect weapons, shields or armor to make sure they are still safe to fight with. If they tell you to remove an item from the game, you are expected to do so immediately. Using gear that you have been instructed to take out of the game for safety could result in that gear being confiscated.

Staff will occasionally send out combat referees whose job is solely to watch combats and guide people on rules matters. These individuals will be marked by orange headwear. If they give you instructions, you are expected to follow them even if you think they are incorrect. Speak to Brandon Febles and Michael Maneri after the situation to discuss any issues.

Respecting Other Players

It is a player's responsibility to respect other players. For example, while there is nothing in the rules to stop you from continually hitting a player who is already down it is not showing respect to them. Everyone is present at the game to have fun, and continually hitting someone who has already fallen in combat is not fun for the person getting hit.

Categories: Basic Rules | Game Safety | Policies